nest

You'll be modelling in S Gauge before you know it!! I think it all depends on what your aims are with the finished product. If modelling a dirty industrial layout with some pretty grotty and worn out track then hand built is definitely the way to go. For me, as it's an overall image with plenty of scenery, the Peco bullhead track will fit in fine. Nestor

Hi guys I was going to use Peco long radius. As it's an overall impression I'm going for, I decided these would be a fine option. I'm currently using the little time I have by having a stab at building a station building. When I have a longer slab of time I'll carry on with the baseboards. Cheers Nestor

Hi everyone Having found some time in my week, baseboard construction has finally begun in my usual slow way. I will share some photos when I have something more to share. I never says this was going to be quick.... Nestor

In terms of vine direction, I'll copy the pattern of the ones that are there which seem to be more or less at eight angles to the railway so facing south-ish. When I have far more space, I'd love to do a model of the lapradelle complete with the viaduct over the river and main road. But space is not expansive unfortunately. Nestor

Hi guys Where all this was leading... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/137370-a-first-stab-at-french-modelling/&do=findComment&comment=3294108 Nestor

Hi all Right here we go then... Initial Ideas Thanks to my parents, I have taken many a holiday in France, Spain and various other hotter places than this as they always felt they should well travelled children. Several of these holidays involved trips to the French side of the Pyrenees. For whatever reason, I fell in love with this part of the world as it has a charm all unto it's own. One holiday in particular was to the hamlet of Lapradelle in the commune of Puilaurens. This is sited towards the end of a valley in the Pyrenees between the larger settlements of Axat and Rivesaltes. We stayed in a house on the side of slope overlooking much of the centre of the commune. Part of the view was of a railway viaduct on the line that used to run from Carcassonne to Rivesaltes. These days, the line is operated as far as the town of Quillan with a tourist railway taking passengers from Axat to Rivesaltes. Naturally, I managed to persuade the rest of the family that a trip on part of the tourist line was a must and it was dually taken. It was a pleasant ride from Axat as far as yet another small town called Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet and then back again. All the time during the trip, I kept on thinking it would make a lovely model and upon returning home to Brighton, I drew up several schemes for layouts but none every came to fruition and other projects took over. The Terror Of Youtube As I said, none of these plans every came to fruition but the idea still stuck at the back of my head and a passing interest in French Layouts was born, Pempoul by Gordon and Maggie Gravett being a particular favourite. However, it wasn't until I was flicking through various YouTube videos on railway modelling that something happened. I stumbled across the videos of a chap called Renaud Yver. He has built a rather fabulous HO layout in his home in France and produces some pretty good "how to" videos on various subjects. I know they're good as I only speak a tiny bit of French but still understand what he is talking about! It was after watching several of these videos that something clicked in my mind. I had been thinking about how to fill the potential 8 or so feet of space available for some time and suddenly everything just fell into place. Plans Are Drawn Up The first plan to be drawn was not of something that I am likely to be able to build till I have a heck of a lot more space but exists as one of those "if only" layout designs I'm sure we all come up with from time to time. After this I then started on a plan for an 8ft layout based on the line that had stirred something in me back in 20-whenever-it-was. Having done a little research into the entire line (Ligne de Carcassonne à Rivesaltes for those wondering) and asked for advise and help on this forum, I felt confident enough to plow ahead with a firm plan. The plan is for a small passing station similar to that at Lapradelle somewhere between Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes and Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet. There is a small road called Bordé Crémade between these two settlements so I have decided to name my station Gare De Crémade. It will have a station building similar to ones used throughout the line which was a fairly standard design. Two variations were used throughout the line, one was a smaller design for the lesser settlements and another was a larger. Mine will be of the smaller design. There will be a minimal goods yard with a goods loop as was typical on the line and indeed in much of France. There is enough to Ready-To-Run stock available from the likes of Jouef and others to give me enough to run. Unlike much of France, track of the Compagnie des Chemins de fer du Midi (the company who built the line) uses Bullhead rail. As this is one of the more unique characteristics of the line I intend to go down this route, possible using the new Peco Bullhead track (I know it's not strictly correct for HO but once scenic-ed I think it'll look fine!). Final Plan Here's the plan. The first picture shows a slightly more technical plain track layout whereas the second includes some scenery sketching to give a general idea of what will be beyond the fence. The scribbled lines will be vineyards. Total size will be (just about) 8ft by 2ft split into to 4ft by 2ft boards. Small and simple as I don't have a huge amount of time on my hands so I need something that will fit around work. Apologies for the random notes around the design but this has just been photographed from my sketch book as this is how I plan layouts, no fancy technology here! Sorry this is all a bit wordy but this is also forming the basis of a series of articles for my club's newsletter. This is all going to take quite some time and updates will be slow as I have to fit this round work and various other commitments so apologies for that but when there is stuff to update with I will do so! Cheers Nestor

Very nice. It looks very smartly straight! Nestor

Oh I'll keep an eye out for that. I have to say, I'm surprised (pleasantly) by the level of interest in this line. At some point I'll make my way back to that part of France. Planning a layout on it at the moment will have to surfice at the moment. Nestor

Oh that's interesting thanks! Also, I have seen that particular forum, was very useful as well Nestor

I'll look into SMP as well. As I said before, this is all very much still in the planning stage. I've only seen SMP used in British outline layouts so I'd be interested to see it used on an HO layout. Nestor

Ah, without wishing to open a huge can of worms, it is the sort of thing I would notice...If the prototype had bullhead, it would be nice to model it with bullhead, atleast for me anyway. It is all personal preference of course! Plus, I am a self confessed rivet counter, on my own layouts at least.... Nestor

I imagine once detailed and placed within a scene it will look quite passable. Until starting on this project, I had always assumed the French only used flat bottom rail. Nestor

One quite interesting feature (going slightly off topic) is the use of Bullhead rail. I wonder if the new Peco Code 75 bullhead would be appropriate for HO, perhaps with a little modification of the sleeper width? Does anyone have experience of doing Bullhead in HO? Nestor

In fact looking through quickly now, the list includes pretty much everything I am looking for! Thank you very much Nestor

That's extremely helpful thankyou! I'll take a look through. Nestor

Looks wonderfully twee! Its another location which looks to have a very similar station building. If I had a lot more space, a model including the quarry (bending history never hurts in modelling) would be rather nice. Thanks for the link, I'll take a look. I'm still quite definitely a novice in terms of the French modelling scene as everything I've done up until now has more or less been exclusively British so links like this are invaluable. Much appreciated. When the plan is a little more developed, I will start a proper thread for it. Nestor

Yes I remember thinking that when I rode the line. All the stations where in pretty sorry state with buildings looking pretty run down and tracks over grown. This still had a certain charm of its own though. The emphasis was definitely on the tour side of things rather than any kind of UK style preservation effort. Yes I had seen that particular photo. Very atmospheric little spot. The plan I have is for a stopping point once it's broken out into the vineyards between Lappradelle and Rivesaltes. A building like the one at Lapradelle or Espira is exactly what I'd be looking at modelling. Nestor I had seen the first one but not the other two. Thanks! Nestor

That would be of great help! I have been looking at the smaller, particularly the building at Lappradelle. The simplicity has a certain charm. I have a few photos, found online but I'm especially interest in straight on profile pictures and measurements. I did have a load of photos of the station and the line in general from a holiday a few years back but can't seem to locate them... A pain as it's a lovely line. Nestor

Hello again Following on from my previous thread asking for general information, I have a new request for assistance! I am planning a layout based on the Ligne de Carcassonne á Rivesaltes and am thinking about the buildings for such a layout. I realise finding drawings of the specific buildings may be a little tricky so a more general request instead... I am wondering if anyone has or knows of anywhere where I may be able to find drawings for some of the more rural railway buildings of the Compagnie des Chemins de fer du Midi? I know there is a ready-to-plant building that would fit quite well but I am quite keen to build my own so any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys Nestor

Hi again guys Have just stumbled across this thread. It's in French but I get the general jist of what is being said... I knew I should have paid more attention in French lessons at school! http://forum.e-train.fr/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9312&hilit=quillan It includes amongst many photos, a track plan for Quillan and a drawing for the goods shed. However, if anyone has drawings of any of the other good sheds or station buildings then that would too be much obliged? It does appear to be universally recognised as a really very lovely bit of railway. One of the highlights of that particular holiday was our view of the Viaduct at Lappradelle from the house in which we were staying. I will try and see if I can find any of the photos from that trip. Nestor

Thank you very much. Plenty of relatively interesting traffic then. I remember when I was there (staying in Lappradelle) being very impressed with the general architecture of the route, especially the bits round Axat and the viaduct across Lappradelle. My plan would be for a small stopping point beyond Lappradelle when the line is running through the much flatter vineyards towards Rivesaltes. All in the pipeline at the moment but good to know there is plenty of interest to be had in the traffic on the route. Cheers Nestor

Oh great thanks, any help is much abliged. In terms of anything I built I will be extending passenger services through to the 50s just due to what is available stock wise. I will certainly have a look at said club. Nestor

Hello everyone I wonder if anyone is able to help. I've been half thinking about a layout based on the line from Carcassonne to Rivesaltes in the south of France having been taken by both the atmosphere of French railways and the area surrounding the edges of the Pyrenees. Beyond the French Wikipedia page on the line, in struggling to find much information on the history of the line. Perhaps a long shot BUT if anyone has any photos or information regarding stock (especially that used during the 1950/60s) I would be extremely grateful. Having ridden from Axat to Maury, I can safely say it is a rather splendid bit of railway!

A small edition to my very occasional posts on this site Nestor

No one remembers when DESH was a lad... Nestor